Global Governance of Migration

Labour migration feeds the global economy. There are around 232 million international migrants in the world today. At least 50 per cent are economically active. Around 50 per cent are women. Migration affects every region of the world, with many countries now simultaneously countries of origin, destination and transit. Vast numbers of people are on the move, not because they want to be, but because they feel they have no alternative. There are no jobs at home, no future, no life chances for them or their families. Or conflict may be raging in their countries. Many are prepared to risk it all, in search of any opportunity for a better life.

At the same time we have a near total collapse of the global governance of migration: the application of the rights-based body of international laws and standards that are supposed to govern the movement of people.

The importance of the application of a rights-based framework governing regular migration, refugees and asylum seekers, including the right to work without discrimination, is more urgent than ever.

News Global Governance of Migration

The announcement that FIFA President Sepp Blatter will step down gives hope to Qatar’s migrant workforce that FIFA may finally come onto their side, but exposes Qatar to the possible loss of the World Cup if it fails to reform its labour laws in the coming months.

Cambodia’s plans to further reduce its weak labour protections have come under attack from the ITUC and Global Union Federations. A series of new measures, being developed behind the scenes by the government, would further restrict rights for the country’s impoverished workforce.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) have condemned the serious attack on human rights in the Dominican Republic, affecting thousands of Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent and their families.

multimedia Global Governance of Migration

Over 100 million mostly migrant women work in someone esle’s house. Many of these domestic workers are not covered by labour laws or social security and cannot form or join a trade union. Exploitation and abuse are common and often go unpunished.

214 million migrants have left their country of origin to find decent work. In the Gulf states many come from Kerala, India seeking better employment. But while economies flourish on migrant labour, migrant workers are often denied their basic human and labour rights. Restrictive migration regulations make them vulnerable to deception, coercion, abuse...

International unions, the ITUC and BWI, have issued a formal complaint to the International Labour Organisation, presenting evidence that Qatar is breaching global freedom of association standards by refusing to recognise the rights of migrant workers. Watch these Nepalese workers talk about what working life in Qatar is really like.